Gear Review: Dagger RPM Whitewater Kayak
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Whitewater all over the USA
Duration of Test: 2 years
Product Name: RPM
Product Brand: Dagger
Best Use: Class 1 to class 5 whitewater
The Full Review:
The RPM is the most coveted Whitewater kayak in the nation. It actually stands for Radical Play Machine. Its design will never become irrelevant. I have been paddling an RPM for about two years now and find it an absolute joy to paddle in many different applications.
The full displacement hull makes it super agile and easy to re-correct. It also is probably one of the easiest kayaks to roll. The RPM has a pretty low deck height and is definitely not as wide as the modern-day creek boat or a slicey boat. This means you can throw it around and tell it what you wanted to do and that will obey immediately.
The Good:
The low-volume Stern is what makes the RPM a blast to paddle. If you enjoy stern squirts or pivot turns in the same boat that you can paddle challenging whitewater in, you will not be disappointed. Because of the bullet like shape, the RPM really pierces through Holes with ease.
The Bad:
If I could change anything about the RPM it would be to increase the rocker a little bit....but then you would lose its killer speed! So....no thanks...it's perfect!
The Bottom Line:
The long and the short of it is that if you buy an RPM you will never get rid of it. And the added comfort of the contour ergo outfitting is unbeatable. The problem with the old-school ones is that you would get numb after a couple of hours. Now you have all the comfort and added safety with the "step out bar". All and all the RPM is an amazing boat.
The Full Review:
The RPM is the most coveted Whitewater kayak in the nation. It actually stands for Radical Play Machine. Its design will never become irrelevant. I have been paddling an RPM for about two years now and find it an absolute joy to paddle in many different applications.
The full displacement hull makes it super agile and easy to re-correct. It also is probably one of the easiest kayaks to roll. The RPM has a pretty low deck height and is definitely not as wide as the modern-day creek boat or a slicey boat. This means you can throw it around and tell it what you wanted to do and that will obey immediately.
The Good:
The low-volume Stern is what makes the RPM a blast to paddle. If you enjoy stern squirts or pivot turns in the same boat that you can paddle challenging whitewater in, you will not be disappointed. Because of the bullet like shape, the RPM really pierces through Holes with ease.
The Bad:
If I could change anything about the RPM it would be to increase the rocker a little bit....but then you would lose its killer speed! So....no thanks...it's perfect!
The Bottom Line:
The long and the short of it is that if you buy an RPM you will never get rid of it. And the added comfort of the contour ergo outfitting is unbeatable. The problem with the old-school ones is that you would get numb after a couple of hours. Now you have all the comfort and added safety with the "step out bar". All and all the RPM is an amazing boat.